Misaligned Electrode Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor for Acoustic Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multilayer ceramic capacitors face challenges in miniaturization and high-frequency noise removal, requiring increased capacitance and reduced acoustic noise during mounting on circuit boards, which existing designs struggle to achieve effectively.

Innovation Solution

A multilayer ceramic capacitor design with misaligned internal electrode groups and extended external electrodes covered by an insulating layer, allowing horizontal internal electrode placement and reduced acoustic noise through complementary contraction and expansion patterns, enhancing capacitance and mounting density.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If internal electrodes are arranged in a conventional aligned manner, then the capacitor structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but acoustic noise is generated during mounting due to uniform contraction and expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic noiseVSAvoidelectrode arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by misaligning the first and second internal electrode groups in the thickness direction of the ceramic body. This asymmetric arrangement causes non-uniform contraction and expansion patterns during mounting, which prevents the generation of acoustic noise that occurs with conventional symmetric aligned electrode arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The internal electrodes are segmented into two distinct groups (first and second internal electrode groups) with different alignment positions in the thickness direction. This segmentation allows each group to contract and expand independently, creating complementary patterns that cancel out acoustic noise generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the capacitor is miniaturized to increase mounting density, then mounting density improves, but capacitance increases and high-frequency noise removal capability become insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting densityVSAvoidcapacitance and noise removal capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the thickness direction (z-axis) as an additional dimension for electrode arrangement by misaligning the first and second internal electrode groups. This three-dimensional electrode configuration increases the effective capacitance within a smaller footprint area, thereby improving mounting density while maintaining or enhancing capacitance and high-frequency noise removal capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If external electrodes are extended from side surfaces to main surfaces, then mounting flexibility and electrical connection options increase, but the structure becomes more complex and manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting flexibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The external electrodes are designed to extend from side surfaces to main surfaces, enabling the capacitor to be mounted in multiple orientations and configurations. This multi-functional electrode design provides versatility for different mounting scenarios while using standard manufacturing processes for electrode formation, thus balancing manufacturing ease with mounting flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design achieves significant reduction in acoustic noise and improved capacitance, addressing the need for miniaturization and high-frequency noise removal in electronic devices by misaligning internal electrodes and using an insulating layer to manage vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

reduced acoustic noise through complementary contraction and expansion patterns

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectContraction and expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS9589728B2Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board for mounting the same

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body including dielectric layers; first and second internal electrode groups disposed to be misaligned by a predetermined interval in the length direction, having the dielectric layers interposed therebetween; first and second external electrodes extended from at least one of the first and second side surfaces to at least one of the first and second main surfaces; and an insulating layer covering portions of the first and second external electrodes formed on the at least one of the first and second side surfaces, wherein the first internal electrode group includes first and second internal electrodes including first and second pattern parts and first and second lead parts, respectively, and the second internal electrode group includes third and fourth internal electrodes including third and fourth pattern parts and third and fourth lead parts, respectively.